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Introduction
This timeline will explain about the events that led up to the federation of Australia. This timeline is not just to explain about the evevnts that led up to federation, it will also expalin the arguments for and against federation. Australia was divided into 6 sparsely populated and self governing colonies belonging to the British Empire. The main laws and external affairs were managed by the the British Parliament. -
Period: to
events leading up to Federation
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The Annexation of New Caledonia
In September 1853, New Caledonia and its islands were annexed by the French making Australia worried that France could invade because they were close to Australian shores. -
Invasion threat
In December 1859, Henry parkes declared that if Australia doesn't have a militia, then Germany, France or Holland could invade.
If they invade one colony, there is a high chance that all of the colonies being invaded one by one. -
1860s
In the 1860s, Australia was divided into 6 sparsely populated, self governing colonies belonging to the British Empire. they could make decisions on their own but the main laws and external affairs were decided in Britain. -
Sir Henry Parkes
In 1889, Sir Henry Parkes had announced that the colonies should federate and form a national government and parliament. -
Sydney Convention
There was a convention in 1891 held in Sydney to write a federal code of laws. After that was written, it was sent back to the colonies for their approval. -
The John Quick Scheme
In 1893, a conference was held in the town of Corowa. The conference was attended by politicians from NSW and VIC, business representatives from Melbourne and others from Victorian branches of the Australian Natives association. There was a lawyer by the name of John Quick from Bendigo who suggested that the whole process should start again. Instead, the people could elect the delegates to a new conference in a different location. -
Meeting of Colonial Premiers
In 1895, there was a meeting of colonial premiers in Hobart and Quick's scheme was accepted by NSW, VIC, SA, and TAS.
However, Western Australia's parliament agreed on one condition. Only if the government could vote for the delegates and Queensland couldn't agree and was later not represented at the next convention. -
The Elections
In 1897, elections were held to choose delegates to attend another convention to draw up a code of laws. The convention itself was held in three sessions at three cities. Those three cities were Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne. The draft constitution was then given to the people at referendums. -
The Elections 2nd Paragraph
People from NSW, Victoria, SA and Tasmania had voted twice but the 'yes' vote wasn't high enough so a second vote had to be made.This time the four states agreed and the vote was left to WA and QLD and they said yes as well. -
The elections paragraph 3
Some delegates had to take the draft constitution to London. Though there was some argument, it was passed. -
Federation Day
On the 1st of January, the colonies federated and Australia was proclaimed the Commonwealth of Australia. Extension: The arguments for federation were all the colonies were British, schools were teaching the same style of education, nearby German and French colonies were nearby and could pose a threat and etc. Arguments against federation were NSW and VIC were the most powerful colonies, all colonies had already have their own parliaments and running a nation would be too expensive and etc.